My first entry!
Ah....my first entry. I've never done this before, but one of my "friend's" has asked me to post a few entries so she can get to know a little about me. Well, I think I'll just start writing about the "now". That is where I try to live, although I'm not that successful very often.
I just got back from a trip to Maui with my 2 teenage boys (Mike - 18 and Nick - 15), my mom and dad (81 and 79) and my sister (53). I'm 43 for those that are curious. My folks paid for the entire journey which was very generous of them. But, I must say it was a challenge to be with these people. Don't get me wrong. I love them with all my heart. But, I am a recovering alcoholic and drug addict and my mom and dad are practicing alcoholics and my sister is a pot addict so it was challenging. They were all trying to be "good" because we were there, but it's wierd. I went to a really cool meeting on the beach in Maui. It's a subject none of us really talk about together. These used to be my favorite "party" buddies because I could drink and use as much as I wanted with them and there was never any judgement because they do the same thing. When I got sober 6 1/2 years ago, things changed. Not because of me, but because I think they are uncomfortable about the whole subject because they all know they have the same issues. I do not judge them. Just try to take care of myself, so that's why I went to a meeting.
We had a lot of fun. Swam in the crazy ocean, layed in the sun, went to a Luau, a snorkling trip which I got to swim with the sea turtles (I love turtles!) and drove to Hana. What a paradise! Sheesh, it's easy to relax there.
I realized on this trip that my parents are showing their age. It's really hard for me to accept. My dad has severe Macular Degeneration in his eyes and he can't hear for shit. My mom says he has a 4K hearing aid in his dresser drawer but won't use it because it amplifies all sound. He keeps a good attitude, tho. I think I'd be bitching a whole lot more if I had his issues. My mom has to do a lot for him now. He can't drive and she often has to repeat what people say to him so he can hear. It's frustrating to deal with a person with hearing loss and it's difficult to not show it sometimes. Especially if he's drunk. Then it's a whole lot worse. I would occasionally get frustrated with him, and then I felt guilty for that! He's such a sweetheart in so many ways. But, I will admit the drinking gets to me. It's no fun to be around drunk people when you're not drunk. My sister didn't bring any dope and she is a person that smokes every night right before she goes to bed so she didn't sleep the entire trip. I remember those days detoxing. Not fun.
My mom and dad are totally married to their watches. My sister doesn't own one. She is self-employed and goes to work when she feels like it and gets out of bed when she feels like it. My parents are retired, but like their routine and it seems like they are getting more rigid with age! I'm sort of in the middle. I have to live by time because of my job, kids activities etc but I like not having to worry about it. She and I tried to get them to surrender their watches on the trip to Hana, but they about panicked at the idea! It really makes my sister crazy. She is single, never married and no kids so she is a free spirit. By the end of the trip, we were all done with eachother I think. At one point on the trip, I slithered off to my kids room and told them I needed some time with the "sane" part of my family. Mike laughed and said it was pretty sad that I considered them as "sane"! Yep, he's a teenager all right.
OK....I'm back at work. Haven't done a thing work-wise today :). Just catching up on e-mails and journals etc.
Hurrah for my first entry!
I just got back from a trip to Maui with my 2 teenage boys (Mike - 18 and Nick - 15), my mom and dad (81 and 79) and my sister (53). I'm 43 for those that are curious. My folks paid for the entire journey which was very generous of them. But, I must say it was a challenge to be with these people. Don't get me wrong. I love them with all my heart. But, I am a recovering alcoholic and drug addict and my mom and dad are practicing alcoholics and my sister is a pot addict so it was challenging. They were all trying to be "good" because we were there, but it's wierd. I went to a really cool meeting on the beach in Maui. It's a subject none of us really talk about together. These used to be my favorite "party" buddies because I could drink and use as much as I wanted with them and there was never any judgement because they do the same thing. When I got sober 6 1/2 years ago, things changed. Not because of me, but because I think they are uncomfortable about the whole subject because they all know they have the same issues. I do not judge them. Just try to take care of myself, so that's why I went to a meeting.
We had a lot of fun. Swam in the crazy ocean, layed in the sun, went to a Luau, a snorkling trip which I got to swim with the sea turtles (I love turtles!) and drove to Hana. What a paradise! Sheesh, it's easy to relax there.
I realized on this trip that my parents are showing their age. It's really hard for me to accept. My dad has severe Macular Degeneration in his eyes and he can't hear for shit. My mom says he has a 4K hearing aid in his dresser drawer but won't use it because it amplifies all sound. He keeps a good attitude, tho. I think I'd be bitching a whole lot more if I had his issues. My mom has to do a lot for him now. He can't drive and she often has to repeat what people say to him so he can hear. It's frustrating to deal with a person with hearing loss and it's difficult to not show it sometimes. Especially if he's drunk. Then it's a whole lot worse. I would occasionally get frustrated with him, and then I felt guilty for that! He's such a sweetheart in so many ways. But, I will admit the drinking gets to me. It's no fun to be around drunk people when you're not drunk. My sister didn't bring any dope and she is a person that smokes every night right before she goes to bed so she didn't sleep the entire trip. I remember those days detoxing. Not fun.
My mom and dad are totally married to their watches. My sister doesn't own one. She is self-employed and goes to work when she feels like it and gets out of bed when she feels like it. My parents are retired, but like their routine and it seems like they are getting more rigid with age! I'm sort of in the middle. I have to live by time because of my job, kids activities etc but I like not having to worry about it. She and I tried to get them to surrender their watches on the trip to Hana, but they about panicked at the idea! It really makes my sister crazy. She is single, never married and no kids so she is a free spirit. By the end of the trip, we were all done with eachother I think. At one point on the trip, I slithered off to my kids room and told them I needed some time with the "sane" part of my family. Mike laughed and said it was pretty sad that I considered them as "sane"! Yep, he's a teenager all right.
OK....I'm back at work. Haven't done a thing work-wise today :). Just catching up on e-mails and journals etc.
Hurrah for my first entry!